RP Session 3: "The Diemen Gambit"

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Jul 20, 2025 11:48 am
It was difficult to concentrate on more than one conversation at a time, especially when one was heard through the ears of a creature whose senses were far superior to her own, and the other took place with an intruder inside her own head. Most unwelcome, but her time with Breuddwyd had at least given her practice with telepathy. Not that she could formulate much of a response to Pavel's briefing, instead favoring a nod and urging her horse a few cautious steps forward. Better to pay full attention to what the Brecht and the Diemed captain were paying than to offer more than that. Still, she was impressed that the wizard had managed to deduce the goings-on in the camp without the aid of an inconspicuous owl sharing its senses. It seemed that their new friend Erron had an eye for talent.

Following cautiously, trusting in the steadiness of those around her to guide her while she concentrated, Tovrunn nearly started when she felt a hand gently brushing her face. It had to be Lancaelad; no other man she travelled with would have dared touch her in such a state, nor done so as gently. Idly she made a mental note to thank him; that strand of hair had been tickling her. "My eyes and ears are with Ira, but I am not without my other senses. If it is urgent, or if we are in danger, please squeeze my hand," she said, offering her other and trusting her horse not to buck her. "Otherwise, please let me concentrate. What I am witnessing is important."
Jul 20, 2025 11:50 am
The captain made a brisk gesture of agreement, and with a gesture and a few short commands he and his sentries formed up, with Braight and one man taking the lead and the other two at the rear. Their weapons at hand, but far from readied.

The supply trail around the south of camp was little more than earth trodden hard by wheels, feet and hooves as the camp was established - not a true road but free of scrub at least. The horses could only go two abreast and keep up any pace, with camp followers busy to their right and the moonlit hill country to the right.

The terrain climbed, ever so gradually, up towards the highroad which meant that even here they could glimpse the activity at the centre of the camp, but that also meant that a keen observer might well glimpse them. Not to mention the number of soldiers and servers they passed who could not help but take not of so eclectic a group of travellers. The chances that they'd lap the whole camp before the alarm was raised were slim, and true enough they'd scarcely made it to the southernmost tip of the camp - barely half way back to the highroad and the path west - before riders could be seen thundering swiftly towards the eastern and western ends of the camp.

Glancing up Braight frowned, but didn't comment.

After a few steps more however the sound of a horn, clear and undulating in the night, took up in the north-west. A moment more and another echoed it, this time closer.
Jul 20, 2025 11:52 am
Atop the pavilion Ira shifted - Tovrunn could be confident enough that an owl wouldn't be remarked upon unless she made herself too obvious. From a fluttering square of shadow behind a banner she could clearly see the puckered wreck of the mercenary's face.

As the guard described Salien in brief terms the Brecht nodded. "Zis is him" he confirmed with a nod to the Dieman commander. "You will take zem into custody?"

"If the man's as valuable as you say we'll take them into our custody while we confirm your story."

"My master vill be very grateful."

The Dieman gave the mercenary a hard look. "My nephew does not make a habit of snatching up travellers and handing them off to shadowy mercenaries, and nor do I. You master's gratitude is neither here nor there."

The Brecht smiled, though the pocked red surface of his skin made the expression look painful. "Forgive me, but you are at var my lord. Ze Prince of Rabbits has many men in the south - some even vithin Medoere."

"Not war" the Dieman replied emphatically "unless Medoere refuses to negotiate. And if it comes to it there's no honour in such infiltration. Not to mention your company's reputation for looting and worse. If there's violence it will be swift and necessary. Diemed does not need your kind."

"Forgive me lord, but then vy help us?"

The Dieman studied the burned foreigner carefully. "Avanil."

An expression Tovrunn couldn't quite identify flickered across the Brecht's twisted face.

The nobleman gave a satisfied snort. "I thought so."
Jul 20, 2025 12:02 pm
"What is the Horn Captain? We should hurry the lady out of here if there is to be trouble." Rhoderick questioned the Captain, settling his shield on his arm, grasping his mace and looking around.
Jul 20, 2025 12:03 pm
Pavel had to push down the natural inclination to stand and fight that arose in response to the challenging tone of war horns that seemed to shout in some incomprehensible language. 'Stay the course, follow the plan', he silently chided himself.

"Squeeze, please! Squeeze, please!"

It took a moment to realize that Pavel was speaking to the individual guiding Tovrunn, who she had previously instructed to squeeze her hand in case of emergency. Pavel wholeheartedly agreed with Rhoderick: time to ride like the wind and get as far through the camp as possible before having to clash with any who would try to stop us -- be they loyal to Medoere or Diemed.
Jul 20, 2025 12:03 pm
Lancaelad had fallen in alongside Tovrunn's horse, leaning down from his destrier's several-hands greater height to hold her arm and reins, keeping her on the strait and rugged path. When the horn sounded and another echoed he lifted his head, but dismissed it blithely.

"What do you mean, man?" he said airily to Pavel. "They're merely blowing reverie. The Diem bugle corps, company B, are renowned for their hearty lungs and regular tootling."

His gaze shifted back to the two parties of riders thundering away from the cavalry detachment of the camp, and slowly, oh-so-slowly, the realisation of peril dawned on him. "Shadows take us," he muttered, his face paling. His hand tightened around Tovrunn's forearm, giving it a squeeze and a shake. "My lady," he hissed. "My lady! Riders are a'hoof in pursuit of us. Open your eyes!"
Jul 20, 2025 12:04 pm
"It is a call to arms" the Captain replied "someone has made their way into the camp. Best stay our course. If we make haste now then the sentries may be confused and move to waylay us rather than the intruder."
Jul 20, 2025 12:05 pm
Corson gave Tovrunn's forearm a gentle squeeze and waited for her to regain her senses before letting her arm go.
Jul 20, 2025 12:07 pm
Avanil?

Tovrunn shifted her weight in her saddle. The Principality to the West? But what did-

A sudden squeeze on her her forearms cuts the thought short. Silently commanding Ira to remain there and to listen and remember as best the animal could, Tovrunn pulls her consciousness back to her own senses. Reeling unsteadily in her saddle as her eyes and ears adjusted to the dullness of human senses, she glanced around looking for trouble and found that they...were walking along a trail to the south of the camp, escorted by the same captain who had escorted the majority of them into the camp.

"Wha-where...?"

It took a moment for Lancaelad's words to register, and a moment longer for their meaning to sink in, but by the time they did Tovrunn was fighting to keep her heart from pounding and her breath from racing. They were not yet in danger, but it was coming. Slowly and delicately, she removed her crystal focus hanging from her neck and wrapped it around her wrist, situating the magical focus into the palm of her hand.

"On your command, my beloved," she whispered, magical incantations on the tip of her tongue.
Jul 20, 2025 12:08 pm
"Captain, we have been plagued by assassination attempts during our travels. Whoever has infiltrated your camp likely means to do us harm. We must see the Lady through and out of danger as swiftly as possible. Her importance cannot be over-stated. It was all explained in the Writ we showed to The Gecko. Please, help us Captain Braight. You are our only hope."
Jul 20, 2025 12:08 pm
Braight seemed conflicted, but he kicked his mount into a canter as the small party began to turn north back towards the highroad. More horns picked up as they rode and now they could see soldiers to their right emerging from tents, taking to their arms and watching suspiciously as they passed.

After a few more yards at a canter a party of riders perhaps twenty strong on fast horses emerged from western edges of the camp and turned sharply toward them.
Jul 20, 2025 1:55 pm
"Captain, those men are after us," Although Pavel's words were true, they also implied that the riders coming toward us were the infiltrators he had just recently mentioned -- which was slightly less truthy, truth be told.

Pavel continued, speaking quickly and with unfeigned urgency, proficiently weaving his false implications in with his truths: "We will take care of them. We need you and your men to get word to The Gecko. Tell him we commend his clear vision and foresight ..." True, true, and true.. Kudos to him, Pavel silently congratulated the halfling, for seeing through my illusion... "...but the encampment's security has been compromised." Which, again, was technically true if one considers our group to be infiltrators. Honestly, though, you forced us into that role, he silently admonished Captain Braight. It didn't need to be this way.

"Tell him to Beware the lies of the Baron of Bunnies!" (an honest warning) "He will know what to do." (almost certainly true). Pavel hoped The Gecko would heed his warning. He also hoped it would make up for all of the chaos he and his companions would be forced to unleash upon any who tried to stop us. At least The Gecko will know who was to blame for the events of the evening, he thought to himself.

"Go, please! Go now!" (For real - go away!)
Jul 20, 2025 1:55 pm
"Captain, you and your men get to the Gecko and let him know of this! We will take the Lady to safety!" Rhoderick urged.
Jul 20, 2025 1:56 pm
Lan gave a huff of relief as Tovrunn refocused. His grip slid down her forearm, remembering the jewelled patterns of constellations he had seen on her skin, and his strong hand clasped hers in a brief embrace - seeking as much as giving reassurance. "When the clamour comes, show them Aeric's fury, my lady."

He drew Ogre away from her side, wanting space on his right side to draw his weapon when needed. His heart thumped in his chest, matching the racing hooves of the squadron of riders bearing down on them. He glanced over his shoulder to measure the position of the sentries ahead and behind them. Slaying Dieman soldiers, assaulting a military encampment while on a mission for the Roesonean crown, travelling under false pretenses... this was all a murky business. But they were facing a murky foe.

The reverend father was invoking a spell, and he waited with knuckles tensed on the haft of his crow's beak to see which way the thread of fate unspooled.
Jul 20, 2025 1:59 pm
Pavel gently loosed the bonds of enchantment that had held their guide, and as he did Braight's expression clouded and he pushed a gloved hand to his temple. Even as he did Rhoderick's honeyed words reached out in an embrace of divine assurance. The dissolution of one enchantment must have left the captain resistant to others for a moment though, or perhaps he simply wasn't listening, because the Nesirite couldn't find purchase on the man's mind.

"You're in no danger - those soldiers wear our livery. Shadow, I know some of those men. Either it's scouts from over the border or a few goblins testing their fortunes. Calm yourself man." A gruff tone had returned to the captain's voice, and his mouth thinned once more to a stern frown beneath the waxed moustache. "The road's just there. We'll carry your warning back as you say, but ride on swiftly and don't make a nuisance or I'll clap you in irons myself."

Signalling his men Braight rode off towards the oncoming riders - the shortest route back to the spymaster's tent.
Jul 20, 2025 2:00 pm
Pavel watched as the Captain and his men rode away to carry his words to The Gecko. He found himself thinking that it's a shame there weren't more men like him in the world: dutiful, honorable, reasonable, and easily susceptible magical coercion.

The mage gave a congratulatory wink to Rhoderick; the changeling had born up well under pressure.

Pavel's gaze returned to the Captain, curious to see if he would interact with the riders coming our way. Hopefully the man would vouch for us and we could be on our way without anyone chasing us -- at least, until he checked in with The Gecko.

His gaze shifted once more, this time to look at Lancaelad, and Pavel readied himself to follow the knight's lead.
Jul 20, 2025 2:01 pm
Ser Lancaelad watched Braight and his men ride ahead, gently drawing on his own reins to slow Ogre much to the warhorse's sporting chagrin. It was this moment, or none at all.

Lan's hand came up, waiting, waiting until the two parties of Diem riders were within speaking distance of each other... the clenched a fist. "Now! Into the hills! Raise sorcerous and righteous havoc, and follow my path! Salien, stay close!"

Ogre was wrenched to the side and spurred hard, charging up the rough slope. Lan leaned forward, squinting into the evening as he sought a path laden with slippery rocks, loose scrub and slash from the firewood foragers, treacherous gullies and snags. A path he could guide his companions through, but that would challenge pursuers...

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